Duplicate-whist tray.



No. 675,295. Patented May 28, |904.

J. v. PRATZNER.

DUPLICATE WHIST TRAY (Application filed Nov. 10 1900A) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

JULES V. PRATZNER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

DUPLICATE-WHIST TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 675,295, dated May 28, 1901. Application filed November 10I 1900. Serial No. 36 ,114. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULES V. PRATZNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in D uplicate-Whist Trays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in duplicate-whist trays; and its primary object is to provide a device which is of cheap, durable, and simple construction, into which the cards can be quickly and easily inserted and held compactly in position, and which so holds them that they may be readily grasped when it is desired to remove them.

A further object is to provide means whereby accidental displacement of the cards may be prevented..

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in providing a tray upon which are arranged straps preferably formed of spring metal and which are located at right angles to each other. These straps are provided at their ends with flanges,- which are adapted to be inserted into sockets formed within the top of the tray. Tongues -are struck down from each strap and are adapted to bear upon the cards which are inserted therein.

The invention also consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tray, showing in dotted lines the cards in position therein. Fig. 2 is a section through the device.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, l is a tray formed of any suitable material and preferably provided with a covering 2, of leather or other suitable material. Rectangular sockets 3 are formed within the tray and beneath the cover 2, and these sockets are adapted to receive rectangular Ilan ges et, formed at the ends of straps 5. These straps are arranged upon the tray at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 1, and are preferably formed of spring metal. Tongues 6 are struck down from the straps, preferably at the center thereof, and are adapted to bear upon the cards which may be inserted into the straps. The straps are all so arranged upon the tray that the inner edges of any two adjacent cards lie in alinement with each other.

A recess 7 is formed within each edge of the; tray and adjacent to the outer edge of the nearest strap 5. These recesses are of such size as to extend beneath the cards when they are in position within the straps, and they permit said cards to be readily grasped between the fingers without necessitating the raising of the same.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve to myself the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

- The combination with a tray having recesses inthe edges thereof and suitably-disposed sockets in the upper face thereof; of a cover to said tray having slots therein adapted to register with the sockets, straps upon the cover arranged at right angles to each other and adjacent to the corners of the tray, iianges at the ends of the straps extending through the slots in the cover and lying within the sockets, said flanges being retained in position by the cover and spring -tongues struck down from the straps and adapted to retain cards in position therein.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JULES V. PRATZNER.

Witnesses:

DELAvAN POTTER, WALTER P. J UDsoN. 

